Snails And Discus

[Rlon35]

I have been keeping snails for a while now, but I have been using peat filtration for a shorter while, keeping my water soft and acidic. I would also like to keep snails, knowing they will likely become a cocktail. My PH is about 6.4. I just lost one of my two long time snails, so I would like to add more (nerites, cherry and amano shrimp ideally). When the snails die, they pollute the water if I don't notice right away, putting my discus and other fish in jeopardy, or so I would assume. Does anyone keep snails in soft water by dosing with calcium from time to time. What kind of calcium alternative can I use without altering PH and hardness too much???

 

[rabbut]

Just on a side not, I wouldn't keep Discus in a pH of 6.4 if they are the typical UK Asian bred stock. They melt in it IME... That will be fine for Wild Caught and German bred stock, however, as a general rule...

Calsium Carbonate, as used for calsium supplimentation for marine tanks could be used in your FW tank, but I'm not shure what affect it will have on pH TBH... It has none in marine... I'd try a little and see. Add the power to water, not the other way arround though, as it starts spitting a boiling mixture at you if you do it the other way arround...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

The calcium may raise the Ph. You might be better just taking the peat out and slowly raising the Ph to your regular tap water.

 

[petertr]

The calcium may raise the Ph. You might be better just taking the peat out and slowly raising the Ph to your regular tap water.

In my (albeit limited) experience - if peat is doing a good job, then you have reasonably soft water to start with. Water that Discus will probably be fine in.